WATCH: Communitech bike thief caught on camera
Security images capture moment when thief makes off with unlocked bike
An unlucky cyclist learned the hard way why police so often use the ubiquitous anti-theft slogan "lock it or lose it," when a thief walked up to his unlocked bike and rode off with it.
The incident was captured by security cameras inside Kitchener's Tannery complex last month, which is home to Communitech, during the Victoria Day long weekend. The video was posted to YouTube on June 5, 2016 by a user named "Phillip Hutchenson," who hopes that the promise of a $100 reward might prompt someone to identify the thief.
The 23-year-old owner of the bike refused to be publicly identified, but told CBC News the bike was worth about $1,400 and was stolen from a storage room, which he believed was secure.
Communitech spokesman Chris Plunkett called the theft "unfortunate" in an email to CBC News and noted that the room where the theft occurred is a public area.
"We encourage our tenants and guests to either lock their bikes, or use the bicycle cage, which is accessible only with a security pass," he wrote.